General News.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19942, 31 May 1930, Page 14

General News.

Mr B. W. Hawke, M.P., will head a deputation of poultrymen to the Hon. A. J. Murdoch, Minister for Agriculture, at an early date, when a request will be made for assistance for developing the export trade in eggs. Eemits carried at the recent Dominion conference held at Dunedin will also bo placed before the Minister.

The cold weather is having a pronounced effect upon the number of books being issued by the Canterbury Public Library, for many people prefer reading in their homes in the evenings to any of the City's attractions which necessitate leaving the fireside. It is probable that when tho figures for the month are made up they will show a record.

The Mayor acknowledges the following donations to the Coal and Blanket Fund:—Mr George Harper £3, Mrs G. D. MacFurlane £2 2s. "A.E.N." £lO, Mr T. Chapman £2O, "A.E.N." (second donation) £3, Mrs and Miss Cox £l, "E.M.S" G3 3s, Wholesale Warehouse Clerks' Society £2 10s, "A Friend" £l, Mr and Mrs P. B. Hume £2 2s, Mr and Mrs H. Andrews £3 3s. To discuss the proposals under the City Council's resolution relative to the 40 hour week, a meeting of the City Council's employees who are members of the General Labourers' Union, is to be. held on Thursday evening next. As far as can be ascertained from opinions of Council officers and employees, casually expressed, there seems little likelihood of the proposals being unanimously agreed to.

"In the interests of the health of fellow workmen," states a notice posted by the engineer at the Parnassus railway construction camp, "it is desired that huts and tents, be kept clean and tidy. Any accommodation found ; dirty will be cleaned, 1 and the cost charged t6 the workman concerned. The occupants of any* huts or tents found in a dirty condition are liable to dismissal."

The Canterbury Education Board received definite advice yesterday afternoon of the "allocation of grants, by the Education Department, for a portable room at the Addington School, and additions to the Linwood avenue School. The latter consist of tw > new rooms of the type erected last year. On Thursday the Board was informed by the Minister for Education' that both matters were being considered by the Department.

Appreciation of the .work of the Highways Board on the roads in New Zealand during the past year was expressed by the chairman (Mr A. E. Ansell, M.P.) at the conference between the North and South Island Motor Unions yesterday. Mr Ansell said that the decrease in the cash balance from £521,000 last year to £160,000 this year was an indication of what had been done. It was decided to forward a letter of congratulation to the Board. An amusing story against the banking profession was told by Mr' W. J. Holdsworth, of Auckland, when addressing a combined gathering of business men and farmers held by the Hamilton Rotary Club this week. Mr Holdsworth said an Auckland schoolboy had been asked by an inspector to give the definition of a bank, and he had replied: "A bank gives you an umbrella when the weather is fine, and asks for it back as soon as it commences to rain." (Laughter.)

Perhaps the worst portion of the main road between Christchurch and Dunedin, that which goes over the Kilmog Hill, will shortly, according to the engineer to the Main Highways Board (Mr A. Tyndall). be transformed by the application of a coating of permanent material. Mr Tyndall stated last night that some miles of the road on the Dunedin, side of the hill had been prepared for paying and that by the end of next summer the greater part of the work would be in a completed state. An inspection of a portion of the route of the Lewis ■ Pass road will be made shortly by Mr P. R. Climie and. possibly, some members of the executive of the Canterbury Progress League.

The special committee appointed by the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand to recast the constitution ot that body met yesterday in • Christchnrch. those present being Messrs A. A. Gellatley (Wellington), in the chair, T. B. Foote (Timaru), L. Deans Ritchie (Dunedin), and H. W. Heslop (Christchurch). Nominations for one member .of the Senate of the University of New Zealand, to fill the vacancy caused by the election of Professor Macmillan Brown as Chancellor, will close at noon on June 16th. The election will be by members of the General Court of Convocation.

The annual reunion of the Veterans' Association of the Army, Navy, and Allied Forces to night will be followed to-morrow afternoon by a church parade. A service will be conducted at the Cathedra] by the Rev. E. C. Crosse, after which the veterans will fall in and march to the statue of Queen Victoria in Victoria square. A wreath will be laid at the foot of the statue, and the veterans will complete their parade by marching to the Barracks. To-morrow will ' bo the 28th anniversary of the close of the South African War.

Just before his Excellency the Gover-nor-General, Lord Bledisloe, made his speech at the Waikato Winter Show on Tuesday, his hat fell off the ledge of the raised platform and landed among the crowd below. The inevitable small boy got hold of it, and a lively policeman kept an eye on him. His Excellency was about to lean over the rail when Lady Bledisloe secured an umbrella with a crooked handle, stood up, and smilingly endeavoured to fish the hat up, much to the amusement of the crowd, who cheered her. His Excellency, with a laugh, shook his head, and Lady Bledisloe most reluctantly abandoned her attempt. The hat was passed from hand to hand till it reached an official.

The standard accommodation to be provided for married men on the railway construction works at Parnassus is claimed to be superior io that ereoted for the men who were engaged on the Otira tunnel. Each will have a kitchen or living room. washhouse and bathroom and two bedrooms. It will be lined throughout with artificial boarding made from wood pulp. A range, twelve-gallon copper with frame and flue, and galvanised iron bath wil! be" supplied to each family. No rent will be charged for the huts, which will cost from £l6O to £2OO each. Twenty-five carpenters are now emnlovod constructing huts at the depot. The design is such that it will be an easy matter to transport them to the various camps. The new huts for single men will be. matchlined.

There was no doubt whatever, said Mr 11. W. B. Oliver, Director of the Dominion Museum, Wellington, in an nddress at Wellington this week, that the Maori hunted the moa, and this would be a good reason for the bird becoming extinct. Many moa remains had bean found in swamps, and this might be due to the fact that the birds were driven there during the hunt or when the Maori cleared the land by burning. The moa. he thought, probt.bly became extinct in the North island before it vanished from the South Island. The last moa might have died as recently as 200 vears ago. for some of the remains found suggested a comparatively recent existence Tt was a problem to decide how the moa reached New Zealand, said Mr Oliver, and all theories on the subject were at best speculation. It certainly could not have grown, hence it must have come by land in the far-off days when New Zealand was joined to other land masses. There seemed to be an affinity between the South American rliea and the moa. and it had been suggested that the moa came, to New Zen land from America, via the Antarctic Continent. The evidence, l he thought, pointed rather to a northern route It probablv came during the Cretaceous period when mammals had barely developed, hence the absence of native mammals in New Zealand.

The Railway Department advertises particulars of additions and alterations to the train and bus services; also the issue of cheap day excursion tickets in connexion with the football match Britain v. Canterbury, at Christclinreh on Saturday, June 7th.

As winter approaches so does deterioration take place with your car if rust is allowed to have its freedom Have it ducoed by exports at moderate cost; we destroy all traces of rust first with a special preparation frnaranteeing all work 18 months Come in and see resulti» for yourself Otir charge is material and labour only. No overhead expenses to pay for. Our address: Wents. Dtico Experts and Engineers. 99a Cashel street (nearly opp Bnllantvnes) —fl

..Mr W. W. McKinney, D.1.0.N.Z., Consulting Optician, has removed to larger and more central rooms, ground floor, 118 Gloucester street, just over Colombo street, opposite Hay's, Ltd., and next to All Night Dispensary. 'Phone 33-047. -1

Railway passengers should make use of our free telephone, next to the ticket office, when they want a Gold Band or a Red Band Taxi, as it will pay you to do so; no extra charge for luggage. —7

Not going home for teaP Then have it at the Tudor tea rooms. Delicious.grills, on every night, are most enjoyable. Tudor Tea Rooms, High street. .16

Charming Bridal Studies. Delightful pictures with all the charm and sweetness that the occasion demands. A Stef fano Webb Bridal Portrait is something to be treasured for a life-time. Studio. 25? High street. g

John Johnston, Ltd., merchants: established 1863. Direct tmportein> of British and American hardware and machinery. 'Phone 4. P.O. Box 1 Rangiora.

The only fleet of taxis fitted with luggage carriers is the Gold Band and the Red Band Taxis, and this gives the passengers every comfort' instead ot having to carry the.luggage.inside, so phone 34-075 or 35-572. Thank you. —8

"When ordering a grain and seed drill, be sure you get the best; drilling being the vital operation in planting any crop The Agricultural Department, after trying all othei makes. both local and iniporteu found our "Star" drill the ontv make competent to fulfil all their requirements, and to give the neces sary accuracy in drilling test plots During the last ten years, the Department h" 8 purchased six seven coulter drills from us foi that purpose- They know *he best! P and D Duncan. Ltd.. Tuam street, Cliristchurch. 0

Top-Dressing—one of the most profitable of farming operations! The Boothmac Double Drive Top Dresser is the popular machine for the job. Its advantages are manifold—durability and efficiency fully proven, and its price very moderate! Illustrated pamphlet post free. Booth, Macdonald and Co., Ltd - -06